BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
League table/ KAWASAKI/ER 650 CAF
Model report · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

KAWASAKI ER 650 CAF

649cc Petrol Class 2
#2491 of 5428 overall #287 of 592 KAWASAKIs #1562 of 2788 other bikes
85.0%
first-time pass rate
8.3%
failed outright
12,133
median miles at test
1,933
MOT tests, 2005–2025
-1.0pp
vs expected · age & mileage

The pass rate is the MOT first-time pass: a roadworthiness check of the items an MOT covers (brakes, lights, tyres, steering, structure, emissions), not a full mechanical inspection of engine or gearbox internals. It is a reliability signal, not a complete measure of mechanical reliability. What this measures.

“vs expected” adjusts for age, mileage and test class, so a cherished classic and a hard-used commuter are compared fairly. How this works.

Pass rate over time

first-time pass rate by test year · 2013–2025

The ER 650 CAF's first-time pass rate has fallen 12.0 points since 2013, 92.4% to 80.4%.

76%86%96%2013: 92.4% pass (132 tests)2014: 86.3% pass (212 tests)2015: 88.1% pass (210 tests)2016: 85.8% pass (204 tests)2017: 82.9% pass (193 tests)2018: 86.0% pass (136 tests)2019: 79.4% pass (136 tests)2020: 84.1% pass (113 tests)2021: 85.1% pass (134 tests)2022: 84.0% pass (144 tests)2023: 86.0% pass (129 tests)2024: 81.1% pass (95 tests)2025: 80.4% pass (92 tests)20132025

Pass rate by mileage

how the ER 650 CAF's first-time pass rate falls with the odometer · class average 84.9%

A low-mileage ER 650 CAF passes first time 91.4% of the time; by 40k that's 82.8%.

70%83%95%0k: 91.4% pass (779 tests)10k: 82.8% pass (621 tests)20k: 79.2% pass (293 tests)30k: 73.8% pass (149 tests)40k: 82.8% pass (58 tests)0k20k40k

First-time pass rate by odometer reading at test, 10,000-mile bands for this model. Mileage is the strongest reliability signal. See the full curve.

What fails on a ER 650 CAF

failure defects by component group · advisories excluded
Component group Share of defects Defects % of defects vs all bikes
brakes
68 22.7 0.6×
lamps and reflectors
67 22.3 1.5×
structure and attachments
38 12.7 2.5×
tyres and wheels
28 9.3 0.7×
lighting and signalling
27 9 0.3×
tyres
23 7.7 1.5×
steering and suspension
18 6 0.3×
suspension
14 4.7 0.8×
drive system
10 3.3 0.5×
Identification of the vehicle
7 2.3 1.3×

Defects recorded against failed normal tests, 2005–2025, grouped by DVSA inspection section. One test can record multiple defects. "vs all bikes" is how often this model's tests record a defect in the group, as a multiple of the all-bike rate.

How rivals compare

same type, similar capacity, high test volume

On first-time pass rate the ER 650 CAF beats 3 of its 4 closest rivals (KAWASAKI ZX-6R, SUZUKI GSF600, YAMAHA FZS600).

KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests Compare head-to-head →
SUZUKI GSF600 77.3% pass · 143k tests Compare head-to-head →
YAMAHA FZS600 82.6% pass · 137k tests Compare head-to-head →
HONDA VFR800 FI 86.7% pass · 89.4k tests Compare head-to-head →

Rivals share this bike's type and sit within ±30% of its engine capacity, ≥ 5,000 tests. Card colour = better/worse first-time pass rate than the ER 650 CAF.

Compare with any bike

rival not listed above? pick any model to see it head-to-head with the Er 650 Caf

More KAWASAKI models

other KAWASAKI bikes ranked by MOT pass rate
KAWASAKI ZX-6R 78.1% pass · 174k tests
KAWASAKI ZX-9R 80.7% pass · 89.0k tests
KAWASAKI ZZR600 79.0% pass · 53.7k tests
KAWASAKI ER5 77.4% pass · 53.1k tests
KAWASAKI ZZ-R1100 80.8% pass · 39.7k tests
KAWASAKI ZX 89.4% pass · 34.6k tests

See all KAWASAKI models →

Pass rate by registration year

how each model-year cohort fares · registration year from first use date

Highest pass rate: 2010 (86.2%). Lowest: 2012 (81.1%). Every Er 650 Caf year compared →

80%84%87%2010: 86.2% pass (1,205 tests)2011: 83.3% pass (651 tests)2012: 81.1% pass (53 tests)201020112012

First-time pass rate by the year each bike was first registered (cohorts with ≥ 50 tests). Older cohorts are survivors: the worst examples have already left the road, which tends to lift the earliest years.

KAWASAKI ER 650 CAF FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Is the KAWASAKI ER 650 CAF reliable?

The KAWASAKI ER 650 CAF is about average for its class: 85.0% of its 1,933 MOT tests (2005–2025) passed first time, against a class average of 84.9%. That ranks it #2491 of 5428 models.

What does a ER 650 CAF fail its MOT on most?

brakes: 23% of all defects recorded against failed ER 650 CAF tests.

What is the best year of ER 650 CAF to buy used?

By first-time pass rate, 2010-registered examples do best (86.2%) and 2012 worst (81.1%). Condition and history still trump the year.

How many miles will a ER 650 CAF last?

The median ER 650 CAF shows 12,133 miles at test, and examples around 40k miles still pass 82.8% of the time, so mileage alone rarely decides the result.

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